Race track game



Dec. 13, 1955 L. e. SCHULTE RACE TRACK GAME Fiied April 16, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTO 5 Dec. 13, 19515 SCHULTE 2,726,868

RACE TRACK GAME Filed April 16, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllpENTgR. I

United States Patent RACE TRACK GAME Louis G. Schulte, St. Louis, Mo. Application April 16, 1952, Serial No. 282,641

7 Claims. (Cl. 273-86) It is a further object to provide means for substantially equalizing the opportunity of each racing element to win the race without causing any change in relative positioning or normal lengths of the lanes.

It is another object to provide a game which is highly entertaining and amusing embodying a track structure which may be economically made and be, if desired, of the knock-down type for facilitating transportation and storage thereof.

These and other detailed objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the track structure constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the finish terminal section.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the track structure.

Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 are transverse sectional views taken along lines 44, 5-5, 6-6, and 77 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 8 8 of Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 3, A generally designates a base structure for disposition upon a table top or like surface and being of suitable character and design for supporting arace track B which descendingly progresses in the manner of a series of ramps from an elevated starting point indicated by the numeral 1 to a finish or terminal point 2 in a downwardly spaced relation thereto. Track B which may be made of wood, plastic, or the like'is composed preferably of easily assembled sections and comprises an initial inclined straight section 3, which mergeswith or abuts a-downwardly curving or first turn section 4. Sec tion 4, which has a slight pitch or bank to assist the racing objects thereabout, merges with or abuts, at its lower end, a main straight track section or so-called straightaway 5 which is reversely inclined with respect to initial section 3 and is downwardly and laterally displaced therefrom. The lower end of straightaway 5 merges with or abuts a second turn section 6 which curves downwardly in a reverse direction to that of turn section 4 and merges with or abuts the upper end of a homestretch-forming straight track section 7 which is inclined in a reverse manner to that of straightaway 5 and, at its lower end, communicates in a manner to be described hereinafter with a terminal or end section 8 disposed upon the table top or like surface.

The upper face of track B is corrugated to form a plurality of ridges with the channels or valleys therebetween defining groove-like lanes 9,. 10, 11, 12, which begin at the starting point 1 and terminate spacedly from the lower end of home-stretch section 7 for discharging into the enlarged portion of a funnel-shaped, common recess 13 for communication with a closed end trough 14, formed in terminal section 8. In straight track sections 3, 5, 7, lanes 9, 10, 11, 12 are in parallel relation and in turn sections 4, 6 they are substantially concentric. Track B may be provided with as many lanes as desired but the four lanes shown adequately illustrate the present invention.

Provided for travel along the lanes 9, 10, 11, 12 are gamepieces 15 in the form of gelatinous or plastic capsules with hemispherical end portions 15. Each capsule contains a ball 16 (Fig. 4) of steel or other relatively heavy material having a radius slightly less than the hemispherical ends 15 so that the ball will be relatively free to roll and thereby impart end over end movement to the gamepieces in a well-known manner. Since the ball is loose in the envelope, the movement of the gamepieces will have a slight lateral component or wobble but insufficient to cause them to cross the ridges between lanes. The gamepieces have some ready visual-identifying means, such as being finished in difierent colors so that the players may more easily follow the course of their respective choices. Or the gamepieces may be numbered or named.

Disposed transversely across the upper end of section 3 is a retaining block 17 simulative of the post, having provided on its forward face a plurality of vertical hemicylindrical recesses 18, each of which is aligned with one of lanes 9, 10, 11, 12. Mounted upon the block 17 is a barrier or start g gate 19 for pivotal movement between F an operative position immediately across the forward face of the block 17 and an inoperative position rearwardly thereof. Barrier 19 is provided on its inner face with a plurality of recesses 20 complementary to recesses 18 on block 17 so that gamepieces 15 may be received within the openings thereby defined preparatory to commencing the race. Depression of a lever arm 21 integral with the barrier 19 effects pivoting thereof into inoperative position for liberating the gamepieces 15 for movement through gravity along lanes 9, 10, 11, 12.

Lanes 9, 10, 11, 12 are arcuate in cross section, each having a normal radius slightly greater than the hemi: spherical end portions of a gamepiece 15 so that the latter may travel along the lane with relativefreedom and characteristic wobble. Since the path followed by lanes 9, 10, 11, 12 about the turns 4, 6 are respectively about increasingly greater arcs, the overall or total lengths of the lanes throughout the course of the track will be different. Thus, inner lane 9 will be the shortest and outer lane 12 the longest. Referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that after the first turn 4 has been negotiated by the gamepieces 15, the one in lane 9 will be in the lead with the competing gamepieces 15 following a different distance, with the one in outer lane 12 furthest in the rear. To substantially equalize the opportunity of each gamepiece 15 to win the race and to compensate for the advantage gained by travel along the shorter arcs about turns 4, inner lanes 9, 1t), 11 are constricted or narrowed throughout portions of their lengths in straightaway section 5, as at 22, 23, 24 respectively, wherein, see Figure 5, the opposing sides of the ridges are relatively close together so that the grooves therebetween are of less effective width than the diameter of the hemispherical ends 15' of the gamepieces. Thus, the gamepieces will be constrained to move along the lanes as though along spaced rails wherein increased friction is developed and the efiective length of each gamepiece, for a complete end over end movement, is less than when it rests upon the longitudinal without subjection to the decelerating stretches.

center line of the capsule. The close spaced ridge sides therealong in unimpeded. style stricted portions 22, 23, 24. are respectively of increasing extent, with the lengths thereof being inversely proportional to thearc distances of their associated. lanes 9, 10, '11 about theturn 4 to thereby compensate for the differences infsaid. arcs. Thus, the constricted. portion. 22. on the inner and shortest lane 9 is the longest and the constricted portions 23, 24 are of. decreasing extent -so that the. gamepieces traveling over the longer lanes will be'permittedto resume; accelerated travel before the gamepiece on the shorter lanes. In other words, the shorter the arc travel about the turn, the greater must be the, duration of the period of decelerationin the straightaway 5 to permit. the racers .to regain a substantially abreast relationship. The gamepieces traveling along, lanes 9, 10,11 will thus be, each subjected to. a handicap to compensate for the relative advantage obtained. on the turn. At the moment thegamepi ece on inner lane 9 has completed travel ofthe constricted portion 22 and is ready to resume accelerated'movement, the gamepieces in the other lanes should be approximately in lateral alignment so that the race will be substantially even, at that juncture. Thus, the

velocity of the gamepieces in the inner lanes will not be constant or have constant acceleration but. will vary 'due to the decelerating effectof constricted portions. 22, 23, 24. Since a similar advantage will be attained by the gamepieces on the inner lanes during movement about the second turn 6, lan'es 9, 10, 11 are provided in the homestretch section 7 with constricted portions 25, 26, 27, re-

spectively, which are in character and. extent similar to constricted portions 22, 23, 24 and serve to compensate for the differences in the paths of the lanes through turn 6. Thus, the gamepieces onthe, inner lanes are subjected to a second decelerating period by constricted portions 25, 26; 27. so. that when all of the pieces have arrived at the ends of their lanes and are ready to move downwardly through funnel-like recess 13, they will be substantially abreast. The gamepiece whichfirst movesthrough. the narrow neck of the funnel-shaped recess 13 and into the end of the trough 14 is the winner.

' equally well. The incorporation .in track B of decelerating or constricted portions achieves a result hitherto. unknown, in the art, since it provides, positive means for equalizing difi'erential; in the turns without necessitating elaborate and involved structure for altering or changing the relative "positionof the lanes or making necessary the incorporation of circuitous or tortuous sections on the innerlanes to makeup for the shorter path followed thereby.

. There is no chance ofa tie since the trough 14 is sufiiciently narrow to pre- -The playing of the racing game herein described provides an amusing and exciting experience for the players since all the gamepieces have a potential equal chance, of winning the race and, by the unique. construction of track B, thewinner cannot be determined untilthe very end of the race. Although the gamepiece following the inner lanes may be ahead at various points during the race; theiradvantages Will be substantially nullified or reduced so that the identity of the winner will be in doubt despite such relative positions as they may assume at difierent points. i V The constricted lane portions may be used in'a track whichis straight from end to end to vary the speed of the gamepieces. width and length in all the lanes, the winning gamepiece would be undeterminable prior to the finish, but during the race one or more and then others of the gamepieces would advance or be retarded relative to the remainder or the gamepieces.

The tracl; structure is preferably sectionalized for easy assembly into playing position or dismantling for facile transportation or storage in minimum space. The various sections may be maintained in their respective locations upon the supporting structure A and relative to each other by readily engageable interlocking means, such as by. dowels, tongue and groove, and the like.

The details of construction may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the. exclusive use of those modifications, coming within the scope of the claims is contemplated.

What is claimed is:

l. A race-simul'ative game comprising a descending track having in its upper surface a plurality of lanes ex tending in side by side relation substantially throughout the track, said track having a turn section, elongated capsule-shaped gamepieces provided for rolling move.- ment by gravity through each lane, said gamepieces having rounded end portions, said lanes being normally wider than the diameter of said rounded end portions, more than one of said lanes having constricted portions wherein the. width thereof is less than the diameter .of

said rounded end portions of the gamepieces for reducing Q one turn section, a gamepiece comprising an elongated capsule containing a relatively heavy ball movable there'- in, said capsule having rounded ends and. movable by gravity end over end through each lane, said ridges being normally spaced a distance greater than the diameter of the rounded: ends of the gamepieces so that the bottoms of the rounded ends engage the lanes, some ofsaid lanes having constricted portions wherein the opposing sides of theridges are in relatively closer relation so that" the width of the lane therebetween is less than the diameter of the rounded ends; of the gamepieces to decelerate the rate of travel of: gamepieces moving therethrough,, said constrictedportions varying in length from, lane to lane. in inverserelation: to the length of the turn section portion of their associated lanes.

3". A race-simulative game track provided with a plu;-;

rality of groove-like lanes-inclined to: the horizontal and arranged side by side and each having upwardly facing spaced rails for supporting a rolling gamepiece, at least some of said lanes each being-provided with a relatively short portion comprising rails spaced apart a less dis tancethan thespacing of the rails in the remainder of the lane, the lanes diflen'ng in' total length and'the'portions of less'distantly'spacedlanes also differing in length to compensate for theditference in; the total length of'the lanes; there being elongated, hollow, capsule-shaped. heavy ball-receiving gamepieces movable bygravity along said lanes.

4'. A, game accordingto claim 1, in which eachgamepiece comp rises a hollow capsule. of flexible material; and a freely rolling ball containedtherein.

5. ,A game according ,to. claim, 2. which each game: piece Qomprisesa hollow. capsule. of flexible material and a freely rolling ball contained therein.

If the constricted portions are of equal 6. A race track simulative game apparatus comprising an incfined track having a plurality of continuous lanes of different lengths arranged side by side, rolling gamepieces placeable selectively in said tracks, each of said lanes having a normal Width greater than the diameter of a gamepiece, at least one of said lanes including a restricted portion having a width less than the diameter of a garnepiece and thereby shortening the distance traveled for each revolution of the gamepiece.

7. A game apparatus according to claim 6, in which the restricted lengths of the lanes are inversely proportioned to the lengths of the lanes.

References ited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS DeRibas Jan. 25, Mclntire Apr. 4, Buck Oct. 31, Wade Nov. 21, Vogel Mar. 27, Nestor Mar. 13, Olsen Sept. 24, Simmons Sept. 23,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 22, 

